THE SPACE BETWEEN

Chapter 37

Trigger warning(s):  Language, violence and sexual scenarios. 

(SHANNON'S POV)

'Where the fuck do you think you're going?' I was ready to put Missi in her place as I walked back in the bedroom.

'Think I'm going? I'm more than thinking! I KNOW where I'm going!' Anger flashed across her face.

'Where now?' I asked shifting my weight to one foot and crossing my arms.

'Calabasas.' She yelled.

'FOR WHAT?'

'A retreat.' She spat and turned her back to me.

'With who...who was on the phone?' I grabbed her arm and jerked her around to face me.

'My therapist from home is in Cali.' She tried pulling her arm away, but I held fast.

'Home? That doesn't exist anymore. This is home!'

Jerking her arm had caused the sheet around her body to come undone and she glared at me when the sheet fell to the floor. My attention was diverted to her body. I didn't see her hand flying toward my face until it landed on my cheek. Before she could stoop down to grab the sheet I took hold of her wrists. I could tell she was livid, but also somewhat unsure.

'Don't you ever...' I began to say until I noticed the finger I was pointing at her with was unsteady. I retracted my hand quickly hoping she wouldn't notice my whole body was shaking. I didn't want her to think that she'd shaken me up to the point of being off kilter. I wasn't, I knew exactly what I wanted.

I saw the next slap coming and blocked it.

'You're messing with fire!' My eyes bore into hers as a warning.

I knew I should walk away, but I was aroused. She smirked briefly as if she'd read my thoughts, then her jaw set defiantly again. Her eyes blazed wildly and nostrils flaring as she struggled to loosen my hold on her.

'Do you really wanna cross this line?' I gritted my teeth as I grabbed her chin firmly and got in her face.

I could see the wheels turning in her head as she contemplated her next move—which was spitting in my face. It took me a moment to realize my hand had gone up automatically and was poised to strike back in retaliation. I froze when she closed her eyes and turned her head away. I'd raised my hand to her in anger before. That one blow had ripped her from my life and the impact remained embedded in my brain like a cautionary flag. I knew another way to inflict dominance.

Once she realized that I'd lowered my hand she opened her eyes. I grabbed her wrists together and struggled with her. I yanked her to the edge of the bed and sat down. I wrestled her over my knee and gave her a well-deserved smack on the ass. She flinched and managed to force a laugh from her throat. She had to be taunting me on purpose. She wanted this showdown, and I was bent on breaking her will. She clawed my legs and tried to break free.

She screamed when I ripped her head back by her hair. I pulled her to her feet and without letting go of her hair I led her to the changing room. I whipped open a drawer and took out the case she never liked. She looked terrified when I dropped it on the dresser top and flipped it open. I grabbed the handcuffs and used my body weight to pin her against the wall. Her chest heaved and despite trying to claw me I managed to handcuff her hands in front of her body. She'd drawn blood and it was definitely game on now. I grabbed the whip and knew I wasn't going to be gentle this time.

Once I'd secured her wrists I directed her back to the bed and bent her over my knee again. I didn't tease or taunt, I struck her ass sharply with the whip. There wasn't any laughter this time—only hissing. She started struggling, so I stung her again. My cock hardened as I rubbed over the welts that were forming on her ass. I delivered another smack for no reason other than to watch intently as her body reacted. She laid tense across my lap as I outlined the newly forming welt. I felt her chest against my thigh as she exhaled raggedly. One more for good measure I told myself and nailed her again. Now I wanted to fuck her hard. My hand slid between her legs, and I was struck by the abundance of slick wetness. She gasped when I rammed my fingers inside her.